Ole Miss at Alabama: Ole Miss will put its improved offense up against the nation’s No. 1 team with its stifling defense. The Rebels have gone from 116th nationally in scoring to 28th under first-year coach Hugh Freeze. But Alabama is sixth nationally against the run and fifth in pass efficiency defense. The Tide admits it likes to play mind games with opponents as far as disguising coverages, looks and formations. Because of TV, the game doesn’t start until 8:15 CDT, which sticks in the craw of the Crimson Tide. By the way, the rich get richer as Alabama got a commitment Friday from a five-star running back.

Arkansas at Texas A&M: After its disastrous 1-3 start, Arkansas knows it is playing for each other as it visits College Station today. Some in Arkansas believe this is the worst start for the Razorbacks since Frank Broyles’ 1967 team went 0-6. Texas A&M is hoping to get its running game, especially Christine Michael, on track today against the visitors. Michael has only 59 yards on 20 carries so far this year.

Missouri at Central Florida: The question in Orlando is whether UCF will have a full house as it plays host to an SEC team. Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel doesn’t think so. After an 0-2 SEC start, Missouri hopes this trip outside the conference will re-charge the Tigers’ batteries before Mizzou returns to conference play. Meanwhile, here are three keys to Central Florida pulling off the win.

Towson at LSU: Towson is an FCS team. LSU is last year’s BCS runner-up. The Baton Rouge Advocate has an interesting sidelight to how this game got scheduled: “LSU originally was scheduled to play the University of Washington on Sept. 29, but about a year and a half ago, Ausberry decided that playing a team from an automatic qualifying conference in between trips to Auburn and Florida wasn’t such a great idea. “We’re in the heat of the schedule now,” Ausberry said. It turned out Washington, which was wrestling with a schedule complicated by its conference (the Pac 10) expanding to 12 teams, didn’t think a trip to Baton Rouge after it began league play was such a great idea either.” The Washington game was moved and Towson replaced the Huskies.